Monthly archives: June 2020

Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 26 June

By Dr David Carruthers

Toby remains away from work due to ill-health which is why you are hearing from me this week. We wish him well for his recovery and hope he will be returning soon.

Thank you to everyone who is continuing to work hard supporting our patients throughout this tremendous heat, the impact of which is even more significant with the PPE arrangements that must be followed. We are doing all we can to try and reduce temperatures in our very “hot” areas and to make you more comfortable, but thank you for all you are doing to manage this.

The week has, again, been full of new government announcements relating to the response to the pandemic. As with all national guidance, we take our own, considered approach and on Monday we began introducing the wearing of fluid resistant surgical masks in our main clinical buildings. Thank you to our security team and volunteers who are facilitating this arrangement, handing out masks and ensuring that people use the hand sanitiser that is available. These people are doing a difficult role so please ensure that you treat them with respect and courtesy. We are closely monitoring any incidents of verbal abuse and non-compliance which will be thoroughly investigated.

The 2m / 1m social distancing changes, announced nationally may be causing some confusion. Our advice is clear that we should maintain 2m at all times and where this is not possible PPE must be worn. This includes all public and staff only areas, so our office reviews are continuing to be carried out to ensure covid-safe spaces with a 2m distance between desks. You are not required to wear a mask or face covering in covid-safe areas within non-clinical buildings, but if you choose to bring and wear your own, you can.

Next week Heartbeat will be out, which is a special edition focusing on learning and innovation. The magazine features stories from right across the Trust that demonstrate how quickly we have adapted to change, learning from clinical evidence and other areas of practice, particularly throughout the pandemic. Research trials feature throughout the publication and we have a significant contribution to these trails in improving the care and treatment of patients with COVID-19.

This week’s Star of the Week is Alison Rose, who is a bank nurse who has worked tirelessly on AMU throughout the pandemic. Colleagues called out Alison for her unstinting dedication and support, particularly during the most difficult times when patients are at end of life. Alison was nominated for her considerable care and compassion for these patients and their families as well as for her support for colleagues throughout the CPAP training programme. Don’t forget to put in your own nominations before Friday 3^rd July for our annual star awards – only seven days to go!

Congratulations also go to Director of People and OD, Raffaela Goodby, who has secured a new role as Chief People Officer with the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust. There will be time to wish her well and thank her for her significant contribution to our Trust before she leaves in October.

Our Annual General Meeting takes place virtually on Thursday 2 July between 5pm and 6.30pm. Do take the time to join in via WebEx – you are all very welcome. This year our guest speakers are Drs James Gwilt and Simon Mitchell, GP partners of Your Health Partnership, the primary care network and group of GP practices who joined the Trust in April. They will be talking through the changes in primary care, how they have adapted to response to COVID-19 and what integration with the Trust means to them. There is also the opportunity to put any questions to our Board members which can be submitted in advance or during the event. Send your questions to swbh.invitation-response@nhs.net and you can join in by following this link on Thursday at 5pm, using the password SWBAGM2020 when prompted.

Later today you can join in the NHS Virtual Pride broadcast from 6pm – grab the link from @VirtualNHSPride (Twitter) or https://www.facebook.com/NHSVirtualPride/ (Facebook) and enjoy the show, celebrating LGBT+ NHS staff and the NHS as an inclusive employer and diversity champion.

Dr David Carruthers, Acting Chief Executive

Heartbeat: Terry talks about COVID-19 experience to BBC

Charge Nurse, Terry Ma came under the spotlight when he shared his experience of COVID-19 with the BBC. Terry who works in City Hospital’s emergency department, was off work for six weeks as he battled the virus.

He was interviewed by journalist Sian Lloyd about his experience and featured on News at Ten and BBC Online, with footage of him at work filmed by the Trust’s communications team.

He said: “I was scared. Because I heard so much in the news about the virus before I got ill, it was scary. It doesn’t matter how healthy you are, some people can get over it easily, but some people may die because of the virus. So at the time, I was really scared.”

He also shared how he feels wearing full PPE whilst working on a red ward, within ED: “I feel very hot and restricted, but the reason I am wearing full PPE is to protect myself, my colleagues and also the patients around me.”

Patient Mohammed Rashid, who was also featured during filming after being treated in ED for COVID-19 symptoms, said: “I can’t thank the staff enough. They witness stuff that we can’t even imagine every single day, but they still work through it, and they’re smiling, they’re positive. It is incredible, they are heroes.”

One week left to get your Star Awards nominations in!

There is only one week left to get your 2020 Star Awards nominations in!

This year’s Star Awards recognise colleagues who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in caring for patients, relatives, those in our communities and other colleagues.

There are a total of 21 award categories this year including a new Nurse / Midwife of the Year award in recognition of 2020 being International Year of the Nurse and Midwife in honour of the 200^th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.

You can get your Star Awards nominations in by visiting the link below:

https://connect2.swbh.nhs.uk/communications/star-awards/

Don’t have regular access to a computer?: Why not complete a paper nomination. You can make a paper nomination by printing and completing the nomination form and sending it back to the address as stated on the form.

Star Awards 2020 nomination form

If you have any questions regarding the Star Awards, please contact the communications team on 0121 507 5303 or email swbh.comms@nhs.net.

World Wellbeing Week – counselling services

This week marks World Wellbeing Week which is now in its second year and is a fantastic opportunity for us to consider our own health and wellbeing and make the most of the Trust’s wide range of wellbeing activities and resources. We have always had a strong wellbeing offer for colleagues and during this pandemic, the wellbeing support has been expanded even more. Do take the time to look at the resources on offer as highlighted on Connect.

Today we highlight our counselling services.

Do you ever fell worried, anxious or low in mood? Do you feel you need some additional support? Mental health issues affect around one in four people in any given year. Common mental health issues range from the worries and stress to anxiety and depression. Counselling can be a very helpful intervention for these problems as well as other issues.

The counsellors providing this service are trained to help with a wide range of issues and problems within the workplace and in your personal life. The service is completely confidential. You do not need to leave your name with occupational health if you don’t want to, just your contact telephone number.

There are also a range other support services which you can be directed to as appropriate.

Contact occupational health on 0121 507 3306 to book your free and confidential counselling sessions.

Drug safety notice: Mirtazapine orodispersible tablets

The orodispersible preparation of mirtazapine is out of stock with no date of return. This applies to all strengths of orodispersible mirtazapine tablets (15mg, 30mg and 45mg).

Note: Standard mirtazapine has been ordered to replace the orodispersible preparation in the interim.

For advice on administration via enteral feeding tubes or swallowing difficulties please see Mirtazapine orodispersible information sheet.

For more information please contact the pharmacy department (City ext. 5263, Sandwell ext. 3783).

World Wellbeing Week – Recharge Booth at 2pm today

This week marks World Wellbeing Week which is now in its second year and is a fantastic opportunity for us to consider our own health and wellbeing and make the most of the Trust’s wide range of wellbeing activities and resources. We have always had a strong wellbeing offer for colleagues and during this pandemic, the wellbeing support has been expanded even more. Do take the time to look at the resources on offer as highlighted on Connect.

Today we highlight the Recharge Booth.

The Recharge Booth is a ‘virtual’ space that allows you to come together with others, reflect, recharge, decompress, and join a safe and confidential discussion. Hosted by Richard Burnell, it runs every Thursday at 2pm, sharing stories from different colleagues over a 20-30 minute session.

This week the Recharge Booth will focus on the following story:

“I’m angry about the way that I was treated during Covid-19. I feel like I was given almost no notice that my role was going to change and that when it did change it was chaotic and often I was treated like a nuisance when I went to work somewhere else.

“We need to learn lessons about how we treated displaced colleagues and how managers make sure that they create a culture where staff who are sent to support them are looked after.”

For more information please contact Richard Burnell on 07747 144874 or Claire Hubbard on 07866 004575.  Alternatively if you would like to be part of the Recharge Booth, drop an email to  swbh.rechargebooth@nhs.net. A WebEx invite will be sent to your outlook diary, and you will simply need to click on the ‘join’ button to enter.

Veena Terpot – memorial bench

At the end of March, Veena Terpot, Catering Assistant sadly passed away. She had been at the Trust for over 20 years and was a valued member of the catering team.

In her memory, Veena’s family, friends and colleagues have put together a tribute page to help pay for a memorial bench.

If you wish to contribute towards this great cause, please click the link below.

https://veenaterpot.muchloved.com

Do you know someone who could benefit from our World of Work programme?

World of Work (WoW) is our unique work experience pathway to employment programme specifically designed and funded for job seekers/unemployed who are aged 25 plus. Applicants must live within the Birmingham and Solihull catchment and meet the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) referral criteria and looking for employment within the healthcare sector.

Do you know someone who could benefit from WoW? They must:  

• Live in Birmingham within three to five miles of City Hospital (post codes should start with B1 – B48 or B90 – B95).
• Have no formal qualifications, but really want to pursue a career in the healthcare sector.
• Currently volunteer in a healthcare related setting but need retraining and formal qualifications to boost their job chances.
• Be honest, trustworthy and reliable.
• Have the capacity to participate in 16 hours of development training for 4 weeks which will include: 2 weeks of in-house training, functional skills, IT assessments, real work-based experience on placement within our Trust and an external health and social care service organisation.

If it’s a YES to at least three of any of the above then the chances are our World of Work pathway to employment programme might just be right for them. Ask them to enrol following the link below. The deadline is 5pm on Friday 3 July.

https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=f0bbd3ca-79ee-4087-8e84-1588c7d2d227&ApplicationFormNumber=3

For further information contact lizagill@nhs.net, rachel.masi@nhs.net or call 0121 507 4891. You can also visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/wow.

COVID-19 Bulletin: Wednesday 24 June

This is our weekly bulletin and will be issued every Wednesday. Please use this bulletin and cascade arrangements within care and corporate groups to guide your actions. Throughout June we are determined to reduce avoidable harm and death in the people we are taking care of. Kindness remains the guiding principle of all the actions in our work to tackle the virus – kindness in how we look after patients, visitors, and one another.

Numbers not statistics: Today’s totals (Weds 17 June’s totals)

1. Face masks and ID badges – it’s for your safety and that of your colleagues’

We must remind ALL colleagues that when entering the buildings where clinical services are being provided you must ensure you use hand sanitiser and put on a fresh Fluid-resistant surgical mask(FRSM). You will also be required upon entry to show security colleagues your ID badge. This is so we can keep you, colleagues, patients and approved visitors safe and help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Additional stations with PPE are being placed at entrances. You must not take more masks than you need or take home for use outside work. We are monitoring stock levels closely and checking what is being taken using CCTV.

Our security team will be on hand at all main entrances to clinical buildings to remind you. Please ensure that you give these valued colleagues the respect they deserve when they are implementing this approach. Any occasions of disrespect or discourtesy will be not be tolerated. Incidents will be reported and investigated in line with our Trust policies.

For more information about face masks see our FAQs here.

2. Guidance for shielding colleagues and returning to work

As lockdown eases and risks reduce, staff who are currently shielding may soon be able to come back on site, especially given the recent changes in guidance announced by the Government (which can be found here).  As always, your safety is a priority – and for that reason those in the position to return are able to undertake an independent risk assessment with the occupational health team.

At the beginning of the month we finalised the new COVID-19 risk assessment tool for Trust colleagues which covers assessment of the risk level within the current service/work setting as well as individual risks including gender, ethnicity, age and underlying health conditions. The outcomes of that assessment lead to clear actions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for individuals.

If you are currently shielding or if you consider you are in a higher risk group you should arrange an assessment which can be organised by email via swbh.riskassessmentoh@nhs.net or via phone on 0121 507 3306. Read the risk assessment document here.

3. Antibody testing reaches next stage

Much like any good mystery, with COVID-19 the search for clues that will enable us all to find an ultimate solution continues. One piece of the puzzle that we have mentioned in previous bulletins is antibody testing.

Antibody testing may help with clinical management in some patients; the main purpose of performing these tests is to help understand the national and local prevalence and possibly transmission paths for the virus. Therefore it will help inform national and local policy on pandemic management. It will also help to inform research into the characteristics and behaviours of the virus and human immune systems. This may help speed up the implementation of vaccination and COVID-19 management policy in the future.

Over 6,000 colleagues from around the Trust have now been tested with many more booked and awaiting their test. However as of Monday the testing has moved into the next phase, with inpatients at City Hospital, including AMU Blue stream, maternity and paediatrics patients being tested. The following week will see inpatient testing rolled out to Sandwell Hospital and then Rowley Regis the week after that.

You can find the pathway details here, and the latest version of the testing Q&A here.

Colleagues that are yet to have a test are still encouraged to do so, you can book an appointment by calling 0121 507 6104 and select option 2.

4. COVID-19 research update

Although the numbers of patients with COVID-19 continues to fall, the COVID-19 research portfolio continues to expand and the Trust has been approached to participate in several new research projects. Information about open studies for patients can be found on this Connect page. Several of the new studies in the pipeline focus on testing and genomics.

A staff study called SIREN is expected to open in the next two weeks. This study is looking to see if colleagues who have evidence of prior COVID-19 infection (positive antibody test) are protected from future episodes of infection. This study will involve repeat swab and antibody tests. More information will be available on Connect when the study is ready to accept participants.

In last week’s bulletin we reported that the RECOVERY trial found that dexamethasone, a steroid that is cheap and widely available and is commonly used to reduce inflammation in conditions such as asthma, saves lives in those people most affected by COVID-19. It reduces deaths by one third in people on a ventilator and by one fifth in patients receiving oxygen only. In light of these findings, the four UK chief medical officers have recommended that it is reasonable for practice to change in advance of the final paper.

 5. FFP3 face FIT testing for new starters

New clinical colleagues due to start work in the Trust are required to get a FFP3 face FIT test prior to commencing clinical duties.

If a new colleague has previously been FIT tested in another organisation then they should provide the infection control team with the results of the testing. The team will need this information to ensure the mask the colleague has been face FIT tested with is in stock. If a new starter cannot provide this information, then they will need to be FIT tested again.

To book a FFP3 face FIT test call 0121 507 5050.

6. Contacting the independent domestic violence advisor

Due to COVID-19 victims of domestic abuse may struggle to get help or to access support services. Presenting for clinical care may be the only opportunity to offer support.

The ED independent domestic violence advisor service is still supporting victims that come through ED. They can be contacted on 07823 336964 (Sandwell) and 07989 843233 (City).

Alternatively, you can contact the safeguarding team on ext. 2844, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Note: It may not be safe for the team to make contact with a victim once they have left ED or hospital. If this is the case and it is safe to do so, please give them any of the Black Country Women’s Aid contact details listed below:

• Text/WhatsApp referral option: 07384 466181 (messages checked Monday – Friday, 9am-9pm)
• 24-hour helpline: 0121 552 6448
• Email:  idva@blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk (messages checked Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm)

As well as women, the ED independent domestic violence advisor service and Black Country Women’s Aid also support men who are victims of domestic abuse/sexual abuse/forced marriage/same sex relationships/historic domestic/sexual abuse. Helplines can also be found listed below.

• Men’s advice line helpline: 0808 801 0327
• Mankind helpline: 01823 334244

7. Diabetes and COVID conversations

The Coronavirus pandemic has forced health services around the world to change the way they provide healthcare and affected patients, in particular those with pre-existing conditions, to adapt to new ways of gaining access both to treatment and their needed medicines. These changes have thrown into stark relief previous questions about the effectiveness of care systems, and organisations across the country are beginning to take what has been learned during this year and use it to re-evaluate how it could be made better for everyone.

One such organisation is Diabetes UK, who are hosting a Lab later this week, the first in a series of informal and creative online conversations designed to explore the pandemic and both what it has meant and will mean for the future of diabetes care. The aim is to create a space where diverse perspectives, ideas and reflections can be shared. The sessions are open to anyone interested in the future of diabetes care, and are being held via Zoom at 7pm on Thursdays for the next four weeks. Interested parties can register online and find out more about the Lab here.

8. World Wellbeing Week

Once again we end our bulletin with a reminder that your personal wellbeing should be taken seriously.

As it happens, this week is also the second annual World Wellbeing Week, so a fantastic opportunity for us to reflect on our own health and wellbeing.

Throughout this pandemic we have strongly been pushing the wellbeing message as we, as a Trust, know how important it is to unpack, de-stress and be in a positive state of mind. We know that with everyone having to embrace the ‘new normal’, changes in shift patterns, for example, can be an issue. In particular for those working for long periods or taking on night shifts.

If you are feeling pressure due to this or your experiences during the pandemic, wellbeing support continues to be expanded; so please do take the time to look at the resources on offer as highlighted on Connect. There is also a range of support films on form our clinical teams offering guidance and tips on keeping well. You can view these in our video and podcast library. You can also visit the Sanctuary at The Learning Works in Unett Street, Smethwick. Sessions run between 9:30 and 16:15, so pop in or call to book a session on 0121 507 5886. You can see what’s on offer here.

The Connect Coronavirus page is continually being updated with the latest news and guidance regarding the virus, please take the time to read and familiarise yourself with the available guidance.

NHS smartcard update today from 6.30pm

An IT update to NHS smartcards will take place today (Wednesday 24 June) from 6.30pm until midnight.

The National Smartcard system is being updated and during the update IT will not be able to reset passwords on smartcards or issue new ones but they will still be usable.

The work is scheduled to begin at 6.30pm and should be completed by midnight.

Should you have any queries on this please contact the IT helpdesk on ext. 4050.